30 October 2009 / AP, MOSCOW
Russia should build a new nuclear-powered spaceship for prospective manned missions to Mars and other planets, the nation’s space chief said in remarks released on Thursday.
Anatoly Perminov first proposed building the ship at a government meeting on Wednesday but initially didn’t explain its purpose. He said in remarks posted on Thursday on his agency’s Web site that the nuclear spaceship should be used for human flights to Mars and other planets. He said the project is challenging technologically, but could capitalize on the Soviet and Russian experience in the field. Perminov said the preliminary design could be ready by 2012. He said it would then take nine more years and 17 billion rubles (about $600 million, or 400 million euros) to build the ship. President Dmitry Medvedev backed the project on Wednesday and urged the government to find the money. “The project is aimed at implementing large-scale space exploration programs, including a manned mission to Mars, interplanetary travel, the creation and operation of planetary outposts,” Perminov’s Web statement said.
